selling a motorbike privately

Selling a motorbike privately in Australia is part art, part admin, and a dash of “don’t get scammed”.

Clean it, fix the cheap stuff, gather service history, spare keys, and the VIN; snap clear photos and price it sensibly using local comps on Tradingpost and recent sales.

Write an honest ad, list mods and defects, and state rego expiry; for test rides, sight a valid licence, hold a cash/security deposit, and stick to a safe meeting spot.

Get payment via instant bank transfer or cash; avoid cheques and “I’ll overpay then you refund” fairy tales.

Complete a proper receipt with buyer details and VIN, submit the notice of disposal/transfer to your state authority, and cancel or transfer insurance.

If your state requires a roadworthy/safety certificate, organise it early, and always run a PPSR check if you’re the buyer—because surprises belong in birthday cakes, not paperwork.